Access Point Device

ABSTRACT

This document describes an access point device and associated systems and methods. The techniques and systems include an access point device that includes a housing with an antenna carrier, a circuit board assembly, a heat sink, and a heat shield positioned within the housing. The housing includes a top housing member connected to a bottom housing member. The top housing member includes a concave-down top-end portion connected to a generally cylindrical vertical wall via rounded corners. The antenna carrier supports multiple antennas positioned proximate to an inner surface of the vertical wall. The heat sink is positioned between the antenna carrier and the circuit board assembly. The circuit board assembly is positioned between the heat shield and the heat sink, and the heat shield is positioned between the circuit board assembly and the bottom housing member.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.17/520,545, filed Nov. 5, 2021, which is a continuation of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 17/001,563, filed on Aug. 24, 2020, now U.S. Pat.No. 11,202,341, issued Dec. 14, 2021, which is a continuation ofInternational Application No. PCT/US2019/053162, filed Sep. 26, 2019,the disclosures of which are incorporated in their entireties byreference herein.

BACKGROUND

Network access point devices can be large and visually unappealing dueto hardware constraints. Some of these devices include external antennasthat, based on the device's location within a user's home, are withinreach of small children or animals that may move or damage the antennas.Access point devices can include complex controls and status lights thatcan be difficult for some users to understand. These aspects ofconventional access point devices can frustrate users and significantlydiminish the user experience.

SUMMARY

This document describes an access point device and associated systemsand methods. The access point device described herein includes a housingthat is substantially cylindrical with smooth, rounded edges. Thedescribed access point device has improved robustness, simplicity, andcompactness in comparison to conventional access point devices. Asfurther described herein, the access point device includes a housingwith an antenna carrier, a circuit board assembly, a heat sink, and aheat shield positioned within the housing. The housing includes a tophousing member connected to a bottom housing member. The top housingmember includes a concave-down top-end portion connected to a generallycylindrical vertical wall via rounded corners. The antenna carriersupports multiple antennas positioned proximate to an inner surface ofthe vertical wall. The heat sink is positioned between the antennacarrier and the circuit board assembly. The circuit board assembly ispositioned between the heat shield and the heat sink.

This summary is provided to introduce simplified concepts of an accesspoint device, which is further described below in the DetailedDescription and Drawings. This summary is not intended to identifyessential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended foruse in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The details of one or more aspects of an access point device aredescribed in this document with reference to the following drawings. Thesame numbers are used throughout the drawings to reference like featuresand components:

FIG. 1 illustrates a top front perspective view of an exampleimplementation of an access point device.

FIG. 2A illustrates a front elevational view of an exampleimplementation of the access point device from FIG. 1 .

FIG. 2B illustrates a rear elevational view of an example implementationof the access point device from FIG. 1 .

FIG. 2C illustrates a left elevational view of an example implementationof the access point device from FIG. 1 .

FIG. 2D illustrates a right elevational view of an exampleimplementation of the access point device from FIG. 1 .

FIG. 3 illustrates a top plan view of an example implementation of theaccess point device from FIG. 1 .

FIG. 4 illustrates a bottom plan view of an example implementation ofthe access point device from FIG. 1 .

FIG. 5 illustrates a rear sectional view of the access point device ofFIG. 4 , taken along the section line 5-5.

FIG. 6 illustrates a right elevational view of the access point deviceof FIG. 4 , taken along section line 6-6.

FIG. 7 illustrates an enlarged view of a portion of the rear sectionalview of FIG. 5 , showing a connection point between top and bottomhousing members of the housing.

FIGS. 8A and 8B illustrate exploded views of the access point devicefrom FIG. 1 .

FIG. 9 illustrates a front perspective view of an example antennacarrier of the access point device.

FIG. 10A illustrates a perspective view of an example circuit boardassembly of the access point device.

FIG. 10B illustrates a top plan view of the circuit board assembly fromFIG. 10A.

FIG. 10C illustrates a right elevational view of the circuit boardassembly from FIG. 10A.

FIG. 10D illustrates a bottom side view of the circuit board assemblyfrom FIG. 10A.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram illustrating an example mesh network devicethat can be implemented as any type of client, server, and/or electronicdevice as described with reference to FIGS. 1-10 to implement an accesspoint device.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram illustrating an example system with anexample device that can implement aspects of the access point device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Overview

This document describes techniques and systems that enable an accesspoint device. The access point device described herein has improvedrobustness, simplicity, and compactness compared to conventional accesspoint devices.

In aspects, an access point device is disclosed. The access point deviceincludes a housing, an antenna carrier, a circuit board assembly, a heatsink, and a heat shield. The housing includes a top housing memberhaving a generally cylindrical vertical wall and a top-end portionconnected to a first end of the vertical wall via rounded corners. Thevertical wall has a longitudinal axis, an inner surface, and an opposingouter surface. At least a portion of the vertical wall has a non-uniformthickness in a direction of the longitudinal axis based on the outersurface of the vertical wall being curved in the direction of thelongitudinal axis and the inner surface of the vertical wall beingsubstantially parallel to the longitudinal axis. Additionally, thetop-end portion is concave down in a side view of the top-end portion.The housing also includes a bottom housing member connected to the tophousing member at a second end of the vertical wall. The bottom housingmember has a bottom exterior surface and an opposing interior surface,wherein the bottom exterior surface defines a plane that issubstantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the cylinder.The bottom housing member includes a curved edge between the bottomexterior surface and the vertical wall of the top housing member. Theantenna carrier supports multiple antennas operable to transmit andreceive communication signals. In aspects, the antenna carrier has asubstantially disk-shaped body and a plurality of flanges, with one ofthe plurality of flanges connected to one of the multiple antennas. Theantenna carrier is positioned within the housing such that the multipleantennas are positioned proximate to the inner surface of the verticalwall. The circuit board assembly is positioned within the housing and isoperable to provide a gateway to a wireless network. The heat sink ispositioned between the antenna carrier and the circuit board assemblywithin the housing. The heat shield is proximate to the circuit boardassembly to shield the circuit board assembly from electromagneticinterference. The circuit board assembly is positioned between the heatshield and the heat sink.

In aspects, a system is disclosed. The system includes a housing havingfirst and second housing members sharing a common central axis andconnected to each other. At least one of the first or second housingmembers includes side walls having a zero-draft inner surface and apartially-curved outer surface. The housing also includes rounded edges.Also, the system includes a plurality of dual-band antennas positionedwithin the housing proximate to the zero-draft inner surface of the sidewalls. Also, the system includes a circuit board assemblycommunicatively connected to the plurality of dual-band antennas toprovide a gateway to a wireless network and a node to a wireless meshnetwork. Additionally, the system includes a heat sink positionedbetween the circuit board assembly and the plurality of antennas.

These are but a few examples of how the described techniques and devicesmay be used to enable an access point device. Other examples andimplementations are described throughout this document. The document nowturns to an example device, after which example systems are described.

Example Device

FIG. 1 illustrates a top front perspective view 100 of an exampleimplementation of an access point device 102. The access point device102 includes a housing 104 that has a substantially cylindrical shapewith rounded edges. The housing 104 includes a central axis 106 (e.g.,longitudinal axis). The housing 104 is simple, such that the housing 104has a smooth exterior surface with few visible features. In aspects, thehousing 104 includes a top housing member 108 and a bottom housingmember 110.

As is further described below, the housing includes a seam 112 on anouter surface of the housing 104. The seam 112 is aligned with alocation at which the top housing member 108 attaches to the bottomhousing member 110. The top housing member 108 may be connected (e.g.,threaded, snapped, fastened, pressed, glued, ultrasonic welded, etc.) tothe bottom housing member 110.

The access point device is configured to provide access to a wirelessnetwork. In some aspects, the access point device can also serve as anode to a wireless mesh network. For example, the access point devicecan interface with a modem at a user's home to act as a wireless routerfor a local wireless network for the user.

FIGS. 2A to 2D illustrate various elevational views of the access pointdevice 102. FIG. 2A illustrates a front elevational view 200 of theaccess point device 102 with the central axis 106 displayed vertically.The top housing member 108 includes a substantially vertical wall 202that is generally cylindrical about the central axis 106 (e.g., thevertical wall has an x-axis radius substantially equal to a y-axisradius such that the x-axis radius is within an approximately tenmillimeter tolerance of the y-axis). Also, the top housing member 108includes a top-end portion 204 that is concave down in the frontelevational view 200 such that the top-end portion 204 curves toward thevertical wall 202. The top-end portion 204 is connected to a first end(e.g., top end) of the vertical wall 202 via rounded edges 206.

The bottom housing member 110 shares the central axis 106 with the tophousing member 108 and is connected to the top housing member 108 at asecond end (e.g., bottom end) of the vertical wall 202, which isopposite the first end. The bottom housing member 110 includes roundededges 208 that may have a similar radius to the rounded edges 206 of thetop housing member 108. In the illustrated example 200, the bottomhousing member 110 is substantially shorter in the direction of thecentral axis 106 than the top housing member 108, such that the seam 112is located on the lower half of the housing 104. However, the bottomhousing member 110 and the top housing member 108 can be any suitableheight such that the seam 112 can be located at any location on thehousing where the top housing member 108 is connected to the bottomhousing member 110. A radius of the vertical wall 202 about the centralaxis 106 can be any suitable radius, such as a radius within a range ofapproximately 38 mm to approximately 65 mm.

The bottom housing member 110 includes a bottom exterior surface (notshown in FIGS. 2A to 2E) that defines a plane 210 that is substantiallyperpendicular to the central axis 106 (e.g., an angle between the plane210 and the central axis 106 is within a five degree tolerance of aright angle). Connected to the bottom housing member 110 is a footpad212 that provides friction. The bottom housing member 110 is positionedbetween the top housing member 108 and the footpad 212. The footpad 212can be formed of any suitable material with a sufficiently high frictioncoefficient to reduce sliding between the housing 104 and a surface uponwhich the housing 104 is resting. The footpad 212 may be any suitableheight, examples of which include a height within a range ofapproximately 0.5 millimeters to approximately 1.5 millimeters.

FIG. 2B illustrates a rear elevational view 220 of the access pointdevice 102. As illustrated in the rear elevational view 220, the bottomhousing member 110 includes an opening 222. The opening providesaccessibility for cables (e.g., power cables, Ethernet cables, etc.) toconnect to ports underneath the housing without causing the housing 104to rest on the cables.

FIG. 2C illustrates a left elevational view 230 of the access pointdevice 102. As illustrated, a profile of the opening 222 changes acurvature of the rounded edge 208 proximate to the opening 222 relativeto the curvature of the rounded edge 208 at other portions. Similarly,FIG. 2D illustrates a right elevational view 240 of the access pointdevice 102. Here, the opening 222 changes the curvature of the roundededge 208. However, other edges, sides, and exterior surfaces of thehousing 104 remain similar in each of the different elevational views 2Ato 2D.

FIG. 3 illustrates a top plan view 300 of the access point device 102.Here, the access point device 102 is generally circular with nodistinctive surface features. In the top plan view 300, the top-endportion 204 of the housing 104 is shown.

FIG. 4 illustrates a bottom plan view 400 of the access point device102. The bottom housing member 110 includes an exterior cavity 402formed by a portion of a bottom exterior surface, and the exteriorcavity 402 is accessible via the opening 222. As is further describedbelow, the cavity 402 includes openings 404 that align with variousports on a circuit board assembly positioned within the housing. Exampleports include Ethernet ports and an electrical power connector. Theopenings 404 are located in a vertical wall of the cavity 402 that issubstantially parallel to the central axis 106 of the housing 104 suchthat an angle between the central axis 106 and the vertical wall of thecavity 402 is less than approximately five degrees.

The footpad 212 is connected to the bottom exterior surface of thebottom housing member 110. The footpad 212 has a general C-shape suchthat the footpad 212 partially encircles the cavity 402 to opposingsides of the opening 222.

In addition, the bottom housing member 110 includes a cantilever member406 formed within the bottom housing member 110 and connected to thebottom housing member 110 at a fulcrum. The cantilever member 406 isillustrated as dotted lines because in this bottom plan view 400, thecantilever member 406 is located behind the footpad 212. Accordingly,the cantilever member 406 may be hidden from view due to the positioningof the footpad 212. The cantilever member 406 is coplanar with the plane210 defined by the bottom exterior surface of the bottom housing member110. The cantilever member 406 is bendable, by a force applied to a freeend of the cantilever member 406, to interface with a reset mechanism(described below in relation to FIG. 10D) on the circuit board assemblythat is positioned within the housing 104. In aspects, the cantilevermember 406 acts as a reset button that the user can press to reset theaccess point device 102. The footpad 212 includes a hole 408 alignedwith the free end of the cantilever member 406. The hole 408 in thefootpad 212 provides an indication to a user of a location of the resetbutton. The bottom plan view 400 includes a section line 5-5, whichcorresponds to the sectional view in FIG. 5 , and a section line 6-6,which corresponds to a sectional view in FIG. 6 .

FIG. 5 illustrates a sectional view 500 of the access point device 102of FIG. 4 taken at the horizontal sectioning plane and in the directionindicated by section line 5-5. In this sectional view 500, the accesspoint device 102 is upside down such that the top housing member 108 isshown in the lower region of the illustration and the bottom housingmember 110 is shown in the upper region of the illustration. The accesspoint device 102 includes various hardware components within the housing104 in a compact assembly. For example, the access point device 102includes an antenna carrier 502 supporting multiple antennas 504attached thereto. The antenna carrier 502 is positioned within thehousing 104 proximate (e.g., adjacent) to an inner surface of thetop-end portion 204 of the top housing member 108. In addition, each ofthe antennas 504 is positioned proximate to an inner surface of thevertical wall 202, such that the antennas 504 are located within atolerance distance of approximately two millimeters of the inner surfaceof the vertical wall 202.

The access point device also includes a heat sink 506 and a circuitboard assembly 508. The heat sink 506 is positioned within the housing104 proximate (e.g., adjacent) to, and abuts, the antenna carrier 502such that the heat sink 506 is between the antenna carrier 502 and thecircuit board assembly 508. The heat sink 506 may be formed from anysuitable heat-conducting material, including die-cast aluminum.

The circuit board assembly 508 may include any suitable circuit boardwith connected electronic components in any suitable arrangement. Oneexample includes a printed circuit board assembly (PCBA). The circuitboard assembly 508 is positioned between the heat sink 506 and a heatshield 510. The heat shield 510 blocks heat transfer between opposingsides of the heat shield 510, e.g., in the direction of the central axis106. Accordingly, the heat shield 510 shields heat, generated by thecircuit board assembly 508, from transferring to the bottom housingmember 110 of the access point device 102. This reduces the risk ofthermal damage to cables or wires (not shown) that are connected to theaccess point device 102. In addition, the heat shield 510 is adjacent tothe circuit board assembly 508 to shield the circuit board assembly 508from electromagnetic interference (EMI) from the external wires orcables connected to the access point device 102, such as a power cableconnected to an electrical power connector 512 (e.g., barrel jack) or acable connected to an Ethernet port 514 of the access point device 102.The Ethernet ports 514 and the electrical power connector 512 areaccessible via the exterior cavity 402 of the bottom housing member 110.The heat shield 510 is positioned between the circuit board assembly 508and the bottom housing member 110.

FIG. 6 illustrates a sectional view 600 of the access point device 102of FIG. 4 taken at the vertical sectioning plane and in the directionindicated by section line 6-6. In this sectional view 600, the accesspoint device 102 is illustrated with the central axis 106 beinghorizontal such that the top housing member 108 is shown on the rightand the bottom housing member 110 is shown on the left. As shown in FIG.6 , the Ethernet ports 514 extend substantially perpendicularly from thecircuit board assembly 508 in the direction of the central axis 106 andtoward the bottom housing member 110. The circuit board assembly 508 ispositioned substantially perpendicular to the central axis 106. The heatshield 510 is positioned between a portion of the circuit board assembly508 and the bottom housing member, such that the heat shield 510 ispositioned between the exterior cavity 402 of the bottom housing member110 and the portion of the circuit board assembly 508. The heat shield510 is not, however, positioned between the Ethernet ports 514 and thebottom housing member 110. The heat shield 510 is shaped as a partialdisk (e.g., approximately 60% to approximately 75% of a circular disk)to enable the Ethernet ports 514 to be positioned adjacent to the bottomhousing member 110.

The top housing member 108, at the top-end portion 204 and the roundededges 206, has a substantially uniform thickness. For example, inner andouter surfaces of the rounded edges 206 and the top-end portion 204follow a substantially same curve. The vertical walls 202 of the tophousing member 108, however, may not include a uniform thickness. Thisis due to the outer surface of the vertical wall 202 having a curvewhile the inner surface of the vertical wall 202 has a substantiallyzero-draft surface (e.g., straight surface with approximately zerotaper). In aspects, the zero-draft surface is substantially parallel tothe central axis 106 such that an angle between the zero-draft surfaceand the central axis is less than approximately five degrees. Thiszero-draft inner surface of the vertical wall 202 enables the componentswithin the housing to be slidably removable for easy disassembly and/orslidably insertable for easy assembly. A more detailed view of thisaspect is shown in FIG. 7 .

FIG. 7 illustrates an enlarged view 700 of a portion of the rearsectional view 500 of FIG. 5 , as indicated by a dashed circle in FIG. 5and shows a connection point between top and bottom housing members ofthe housing. In the enlarged view 700, the top housing member 108 isconnected to the bottom housing member 110. As described above, thevertical wall 202 of the top housing member 108 includes a varying(e.g., non-uniform) thickness based on a zero-draft inner surface 702and a curved outer surface 704. The curved outer surface 704 provides asoft-looking surface for the exterior of the access point device 102while the zero-draft inner surface 702 enables easy insertion or removalof internal components of the access point device 102. Also shown in theenlarged view 700 is a portion of the heat sink 506, which includes aprotrusion 706 positioned within a recess 708 of the bottom housingmember 110 for stability.

The housing 104 includes a vertical step member 710 that interfaces thebottom housing member 110 to the top housing member 108. As illustrated,the vertical step member 710 is inset toward the central axis of thehousing 104 (horizontally offset from outer surfaces of the top andbottom housing members 108, 110) by a distance x 712 that is within arange of approximately 0.25 mm to approximately 1.0 mm. The verticalstep member 710 has a height y 714 that is within a range ofapproximately 0.2 millimeters to approximately 2.0 millimeters. Thevertical step member 710 creates a horizontal gap (e.g., the seam 112from FIG. 1 ) between the top housing member 108 and the bottom housingmember 110, with the gap including a height equal to the height y 714 ofthe vertical step member 710 and a depth equal to the distance x 712that the vertical step member 710 is inset. The resulting gap has aheight variance of less than 0.5 millimeters such that the gap issubstantially uniform according to user perception. Without the verticalstep member 710, the connection between the top housing member 108 andthe bottom housing member 110 may create a seam that is more easilyperceived by the human eye as being non-uniform in height. Accordingly,the gap created by the vertical step member 710 is less likely to beperceived, by the user, as not being uniform.

FIGS. 8A and 8B illustrate example exploded views 800 and 850,respectively, of the access point device. As generally shown in FIGS. 8Aand 8B, the antenna carrier 502 is positioned between the top housingmember 108 and a heat spreader 802. Fasteners 804 can be used to securethe antenna carrier 502 to the top housing member 108. Any suitablefastener may be used, such as screws, bolts, rivets, etc. The first heatspreader 802 is positioned between the antenna carrier 502 and the heatsink 506 to help spread heat across a surface of the heat sink 506. Theheat sink 506 is positioned between the first heat spreader 802 and thecircuit board assembly 508. Additional fasteners 806 can be used tosecure the heat sink 506 to the antenna carrier 502. The first heatspreader 802 includes several holes through which protrusions on theheat sink 506 pass through to abut the antenna carrier 502. Theadditional fasteners 806 are positioned within holes in the protrusionsand connect to the antenna carrier 502.

Thermal interface material 808 (e.g., thermal gel, thermal pads) arepositioned between the heat sink 506 and the circuit board assembly 508.The circuit board assembly 508 is positioned between the heat sink 506and a second heat spreader 810. The second heat spreader 810 abuts theheat shield 510 such that the second heat spreader 810 is positionedbetween the circuit board assembly 508 and the heat shield 510. The heatshield 510 abuts the bottom housing member 110. Fasteners 812 can beused to secure the circuit board assembly 508 to the heat sink 506. Inaddition, fasteners 814 can be used to secure the heat shield 510 to thecircuit board assembly 508, or to secure the heat shield 510 to the heatsink 506 via holes in the circuit board assembly 508. Fastener 816 canbe used to secure the bottom housing member 110 to the heat sink 506 viaholes in the heat shield 510 and the circuit board assembly 508. Thefootpad 212 may be adhered to the bottom housing member 110 using anysuitable adhesive. Also, a label 818 is adhered to the bottom of thebottom housing member 110, within the exterior cavity 402 shown in FIG.4 , to cover the fasteners 816 and the cantilever member 406.

The top housing member 108 also includes a recess 820 in the innersurface of the vertical wall. The top housing member 108 is translucentbetween the recess 820 and the outer surface of the top housing member108. The top housing member 108 is formed of a partially translucentmaterial (e.g., polymer or thermoplastic) such that light can passthrough the material if the thickness of the material is below athreshold value. For example, a light source (e.g., light-emitting diode(LED)) connected to the circuit board assembly 508 can radiate lightonto the inner surface of the top housing member 108. Based on thethickness of the top housing member 108 being below the threshold valueat a location aligned with the LED, such as between the recess 820 andthe outer surface of the vertical wall 202, the light passes through thetop housing member 108 at that location. The light can correspond to anoperating status of the access point device 102. Any suitable locationon the top housing member 108 may be used to provide a status light,including a location on the top-end portion 204 of the top housingmember 108. A light blocker 822 is positioned around the recess 820 toprevent the light from leaking through the top housing member 108 atlocations or regions other than the intended location (e.g., the recess820). Any suitable material can be used as the light blocker 822. Oneexample light blocker 822 includes graphite (e.g., graphite adhesive)adhered to the top housing member 108. Another example light blocker 822may be polyethylene terephthalate (PET) adhered to the top housingmember.

FIG. 9 illustrates a front perspective view 900 of an antenna carrier ofthe access point device. The antenna carrier 502 has a generallydisk-shaped body 902 having flanges 904 connected to the antennas 504.The antenna carrier 502 may be formed of any suitable non-conductivematerial, such as a polymer or thermoplastic. In this implementation,the antenna carrier 502 includes four flanges 904, each carrying adipole (e.g., antenna 504) that can be implemented as a dual-bandantenna. The antenna carrier 502 also includes a plurality ofprotrusions 906 (e.g., vertical beams) that abut the inner surface ofthe top-end portion 204 of the top housing member 108. The protrusions906 define a position of the antennas 504 relative to the top-endportion 204 of the top housing member 108. Each antenna 504 includes awired connection to the circuit board assembly 508 (shown in FIGS. 5, 6,8A, and 8B) via a respective wire 908.

FIGS. 10A to 10D illustrate various views of an example circuit boardassembly. FIG. 10A illustrates a perspective view 1000 of the circuitboard assembly 508 from FIGS. 5, 6, 8A, and 8B and is oriented based onan axis 1002. The axis 1002 is aligned with a plane defined by a PCB1004 of the circuit board assembly 508. FIG. 10B illustrates a top planview 1010 of the circuit board assembly 508 from FIG. 10A. The circuitboard assembly 508 includes a system-on-chip (SoC) 1012, a memory device1014, a thread control block 1016, a wireless network module 1018, and alight-emitting diode (LED) 1020. The memory device 1014 can include anysuitable memory, such as a double data rate memory. The wireless networkmodule 1018 can include any suitable wireless network module, such as a2.4 GHz Wi-Fi module. The LED 1020 corresponds to an operating status ofthe access point device 102. In aspects, the LED 1020 is aligned withthe recess 820 in the top housing member 108 to radiate light through atranslucent portion of the top housing member 108 that is between therecess 820 and the outer surface of the top housing member 108.

FIG. 10C illustrates a right elevational view 1030 of the circuit boardassembly 508 from FIG. 10A. Here, the Ethernet port 514 is shown asextending perpendicularly from a plane defined by the PCB 1004 of thecircuit board assembly 508. FIG. 10D illustrates a bottom plan view 1040of the circuit board assembly 508 from FIG. 10A. The circuit boardassembly 508 includes an additional wireless network module 1042, suchas a 5 GHz Wi-Fi module. Using the wireless network module 1018 and theadditional wireless network module 1042, the circuit board assembly 508can be implemented as a dual-band router. In addition, the circuit boardassembly 508 includes a tactile switch 1044 that is usable to togglepower to the electrical power connector 512. The circuit board assemblyalso includes a power management integrated circuit (PMIC) 1046 tocontrol various components of the circuit board assembly 508, as well ascomponents of the access point device 102. The arrangement of componentson the circuit board assembly 508 illustrated in FIGS. 10A to 10D areshown as an example only and are not to be construed as limiting. Thecomponents of the circuit board assembly 508 can be implemented in anysuitable configuration on the PCB 1004 for implementing aspects of theaccess point device 102.

Example Computing System

FIG. 11 is a block diagram illustrating an example mesh network device1100 that can be implemented as any mesh network device in a meshnetwork in accordance with one or more aspects of the access pointdevice described herein. The device 1100 can be integrated withelectronic circuitry, microprocessors, memory, input output (I/O) logiccontrol, communication interfaces and components, as well as otherhardware, firmware, and/or software to implement the device in a meshnetwork. Further, the mesh network device 1100 can be implemented withvarious components, such as with any number and combination of differentcomponents as further described with reference to the example deviceshown in FIG. 12 .

In this example, the mesh network device 1100 includes a low-powermicroprocessor 1102 and a high-power microprocessor 1104 (e.g.,microcontrollers or digital signal processors) that process executableinstructions. The device also includes an input-output (I/O) logiccontrol 1106 (e.g., to include electronic circuitry). Themicroprocessors can include components of an integrated circuit,programmable logic device, a logic device formed using one or moresemiconductors, and other implementations in silicon and/or hardware,such as a processor and memory system implemented as a system-on-chip(SoC). Alternatively or in addition, the device can be implemented withany one or combination of software, hardware, firmware, or fixed logiccircuitry that may be implemented with processing and control circuits.The low-power microprocessor 1102 and the high-power microprocessor 1104can also support one or more different device functionalities of thedevice. For example, the high-power microprocessor 1104 may executecomputationally intensive operations, whereas the low-powermicroprocessor 1102 may manage less-complex processes such as detectinga hazard or temperature from one or more sensors 1108. The low-powerprocessor 1102 may also wake or initialize the high-power processor 1104for computationally intensive processes.

The one or more sensors 1108 can be implemented to detect variousproperties such as acceleration, temperature, humidity, water, suppliedpower, proximity, external motion, device motion, sound signals,ultrasound signals, light signals, fire, smoke, carbon monoxide,global-positioning-satellite (GP S) signals, radio-frequency (RF), otherelectromagnetic signals or fields, or the like. As such, the sensors1108 may include any one or a combination of temperature sensors,humidity sensors, hazard-related sensors, security sensors, otherenvironmental sensors, accelerometers, microphones, optical sensors upto and including cameras (e.g., charged coupled-device or videocameras), active or passive radiation sensors, GPS receivers, andradio-frequency identification detectors. In implementations, the meshnetwork device 1100 may include one or more primary sensors, as well asone or more secondary sensors, such as primary sensors that sense datacentral to the core operation of the device (e.g., sensing a temperaturein a thermostat or sensing smoke in a smoke detector), while thesecondary sensors may sense other types of data (e.g., motion, light orsound), which can be used for energy-efficiency objectives orsmart-operation objectives.

The mesh network device 1100 includes a memory device controller 1110and a memory device 1112, such as any type of a nonvolatile memoryand/or other suitable electronic data storage device. The mesh networkdevice 1100 can also include various firmware and/or software, such asan operating system 1114 that is maintained as computer executableinstructions by the memory and executed by a microprocessor. The devicesoftware may also include a smart-home application 1116 that implementsaspects of the access point device. The mesh network device 1100 alsoincludes a device interface 1118 to interface with another device orperipheral component, and includes an integrated data bus 1120 thatcouples the various components of the mesh network device for datacommunication between the components. The data bus in the mesh networkdevice may also be implemented as any one or a combination of differentbus structures and/or bus architectures.

The device interface 1118 may receive input from a user and/or provideinformation to the user (e.g., as a user interface), and a receivedinput can be used to determine a setting. The device interface 1118 mayalso include mechanical or virtual components that respond to a userinput. For example, the user can mechanically move a sliding orrotatable component, or the motion along a touchpad may be detected, andsuch motions may correspond to a setting adjustment of the device.Physical and virtual movable user-interface components can allow theuser to set a setting along a portion of an apparent continuum. Thedevice interface 1118 may also receive inputs from any number ofperipherals, such as buttons, a keypad, a switch, a microphone, and animager (e.g., a camera device).

The mesh network device 1100 can include network interfaces 1122, suchas a mesh network interface for communication with other mesh networkdevices in a mesh network, and an external network interface for networkcommunication, such as via the Internet. The mesh network device 1100also includes wireless radio systems 1124 for wireless communicationwith other mesh network devices via the mesh network interface and formultiple, different wireless communications systems. The wireless radiosystems 1124 may include Wi-Fi, Bluetooth™, Mobile Broadband, BluetoothLow Energy (BLE), and/or point-to-point IEEE 802.15.4. Each of thedifferent radio systems can include a radio device, antenna, and chipsetthat is implemented for a particular wireless communications technology.The mesh network device 1100 also includes a power source 1126, such asa battery and/or to connect the device to line voltage. An AC powersource may also be used to charge the battery of the device.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram illustrating an example system 1200 thatincludes an example device 1202, which can be implemented as any meshnetwork device that implements aspects of the access point device 102 asdescribed with reference to the previous FIGS. 1-11 . The example device1202 may be any type of computing device, client device, mobile phone,tablet, communication, entertainment, gaming, media playback, and/orother type of device. Further, the example device 1202 may beimplemented as any other type of mesh network device that is configuredfor communication on a mesh network, such as a thermostat, hazarddetector, camera, light unit, commissioning device, router, borderrouter, joiner router, joining device, end device, leader, access point,a hub, and/or other mesh network devices.

The device 1202 includes communication devices 1204 that enable wiredand/or wireless communication of device data 1206, such as data that iscommunicated between the devices in a mesh network, data that is beingreceived, data scheduled for broadcast, data packets of the data, datathat is synched between the devices, etc. The device data can includeany type of communication data, as well as audio, video, and/or imagedata that is generated by applications executing on the device. Thecommunication devices 1204 can also include transceivers for cellularphone communication and/or for network data communication.

The device 1202 also includes input/output (I/O) interfaces 1208, suchas data network interfaces that provide connection and/or communicationlinks between the device, data networks (e.g., a mesh network, externalnetwork, etc.), and other devices. The I/O interfaces can be used tocouple the device to any type of components, peripherals, and/oraccessory devices. The I/O interfaces also include data input ports viawhich any type of data, media content, and/or inputs can be received,such as user inputs to the device, as well as any type of communicationdata, such as audio, video, and/or image data received from any contentand/or data source.

The device 1202 includes a processing system 1210 that may beimplemented at least partially in hardware, such as with any type ofmicroprocessors, controllers, or the like that process executableinstructions. The processing system can include components of anintegrated circuit, programmable logic device, a logic device formedusing one or more semiconductors, and other implementations in siliconand/or hardware, such as a processor and memory system implemented as asystem-on-chip (SoC). Alternatively or in addition, the device can beimplemented with any one or combination of software, hardware, firmware,or fixed logic circuitry that may be implemented with processing andcontrol circuits. The device 1202 may further include any type of asystem bus or other data and command transfer system that couples thevarious components within the device. A system bus can include any oneor combination of different bus structures and architectures, as well ascontrol and data lines.

The device 1202 also includes computer-readable storage memory 1212,such as data storage devices that can be accessed by a computing device,and that provide persistent storage of data and executable instructions(e.g., software applications, modules, programs, functions, or thelike). The computer-readable storage memory described herein excludespropagating signals. Examples of computer-readable storage memoryinclude volatile memory and non-volatile memory, fixed and removablemedia devices, and any suitable memory device or electronic data storagethat maintains data for computing device access. The computer-readablestorage memory can include various implementations of random accessmemory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), flash memory, and other types ofstorage memory in various memory device configurations.

The computer-readable storage memory 1212 provides storage of the devicedata 1206 and various device applications 1214, such as an operatingsystem that is maintained as a software application with thecomputer-readable storage memory and executed by the processing system1210. The device applications may also include a device manager, such asany form of a control application, software application, signalprocessing and control module, code that is native to a particulardevice, a hardware abstraction layer for a particular device, and so on.In this example, the device applications also include a smart-homeapplication 1216 that implements aspects of the access point device,such as when the example device 1202 is implemented as any of the meshnetwork devices described herein.

In aspects, at least part of the techniques described for the accesspoint device may be implemented in a distributed system, such as over a“cloud” 1224 in a platform 1226. The cloud 1224 includes and/or isrepresentative of the platform 1226 for services 1228 and/or resources1230.

The platform 1226 abstracts underlying functionality of hardware, suchas server devices (e.g., included in the services 1228) and/or softwareresources (e.g., included as the resources 1230), and communicativelyconnects the example device 1202 with other devices, servers, etc. Theresources 1230 may also include applications and/or data that can beutilized while computer processing is executed on servers that areremote from the example device 1202. Additionally, the services 1228and/or the resources 1230 may facilitate subscriber network services,such as over the Internet, a cellular network, or Wi-Fi network. Theplatform 1226 may also serve to abstract and scale resources to servicea demand for the resources 1230 that are implemented via the platform,such as in an interconnected device embodiment with functionalitydistributed throughout the system 1200. For example, the functionalitymay be implemented in part at the example device 1202 as well as via theplatform 1226 that abstracts the functionality of the cloud 1224.

Further to the descriptions above, a user (e.g., guest or host) may beprovided with controls allowing the user to make an election as to bothif and when systems, programs or features described herein may enablecollection of user information (e.g., information about a user's socialnetwork, social actions or activities, profession, a user's preferences,or a user's current location), and if the user is sent content orcommunications from a server. In addition, certain data may be treatedin one or more ways before it is stored or used, so that personallyidentifiable information is removed. For example, a user's identity maybe treated so that no personally identifiable information can bedetermined for the user, or a user's geographic location may begeneralized where location information is obtained (such as to a city,ZIP code, or state level), so that a particular location of a usercannot be determined. Thus, the user may have control over whatinformation is collected about the user, how that information is used,and what information is provided to the user.

Some examples are described below.

Example 1. An access point comprising: a housing comprising: a tophousing member having a generally cylindrical vertical wall and atop-end portion connected to a first end of the vertical wall viarounded corners, the vertical wall having a longitudinal axis, thevertical wall having an inner surface and an opposing outer surface, atleast a portion of the vertical wall having non-uniform thickness in adirection of the longitudinal axis based on the outer surface of thevertical wall being curved in the direction of the longitudinal axis andthe inner surface of the vertical wall being substantially parallel tothe longitudinal axis, the top-end portion being concave down in a sideview of the top-end portion; and a bottom housing member connected tothe top housing member at a second end of the vertical wall, the bottomhousing member having a bottom exterior surface and an opposing interiorsurface, the bottom exterior surface defining a plane that issubstantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the cylinder,the bottom housing member comprising a curved edge between the bottomexterior surface and the vertical wall of the top housing member; anantenna carrier supporting multiple antennas operable to transmit andreceive communication signals, the antenna carrier having asubstantially disk-shaped body and a plurality of flanges, one of theplurality of flanges connected to one of the multiple antennas, theantenna carrier positioned within the housing such that the multipleantennas are positioned proximate to the inner surface of the verticalwall; a circuit board assembly positioned within the housing andoperable to provide a gateway to a wireless network; a heat sinkpositioned between the antenna carrier and the circuit board assemblywithin the housing; and a heat shield positioned adjacent to the circuitboard assembly to shield the circuit board assembly from electromagneticinterference, the circuit board assembly positioned between the heatshield and the heat sink.

Example 2. The access point of example 1, further comprising a heatspreader positioned between the heat sink and the antenna carrier, theheat sink positioned between the heat spreader and the circuit boardassembly.

Example 3. The access point of example 1, further comprising a heatspreader positioned between the circuit board assembly and the heatshield, the heat shield positioned between the circuit board assemblyand the bottom housing member.

Example 4. The access point of example 1, wherein the circuit boardassembly comprises one or more Ethernet ports.

Example 5. The access point of example 4, wherein: the bottom housingmember includes an exterior cavity formed by a portion of the bottomexterior surface; and the exterior cavity comprises an interior sidethat is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis, the exteriorcavity having one or more openings aligned with the one or more Ethernetports of the circuit board assembly.

Example 6. The access point of example 5, wherein the interior side ofthe exterior cavity further includes an additional opening aligned withan electrical power connector on the circuit board assembly.

Example 7. The access point of example 1, further comprising acantilever member formed within the bottom housing member and connectedto the bottom housing member at a fulcrum, wherein the cantilevermember: is coplanar with the plane defined by the bottom exteriorsurface; and is bendable, by a force applied to a free end of thecantilever member, to interface with a reset mechanism on the circuitboard assembly.

Example 8. The access point of example 1, wherein: the top housingmember comprises a recess in the inner surface of the vertical wall; thevertical wall having a translucent portion between the recess and theouter surface of the vertical wall; and the access point furthercomprises a light source aligned with the recess to radiate lightthrough the translucent portion of the vertical wall, the lightcorresponding to an operating status of the access point.

Example 9. The access point of example 8, further comprising a lightblocker positioned around the recess to prevent light from passingthrough the vertical wall at locations other than the translucentportion.

Example 10. The access point of example 1, wherein: the housingcomprises a vertical step member that interfaces the bottom housingmember to the top housing member; the vertical step member is insettoward the longitudinal axis; and the vertical step member causes a gap,with a substantially uniform height, to be formed horizontally betweenthe bottom housing member and the top housing member.

Example 11. The access point of example 1, wherein the multiple antennasinclude multiple dual-band antennas.

Example 12. The access point of example 1, wherein the circuit boardassembly is further operable to provide a node to a wireless meshnetwork.

Example 13. The access point of example 1, wherein at least one of thetop housing member or the bottom housing member is injection molded.

Example 14. The access point of example 1, wherein the antenna carriercomprises a non-conductive material.

Example 15. The access point of example 1, wherein the heat shield isshaped as a partial disk to enable one or more Ethernet ports on thecircuit board assembly to be positioned adjacent to the bottom housingmember.

Example 16. A system comprising: a housing comprising: first and secondhousing members sharing a common central axis and connected to oneanother, at least one of the first or second housing members comprisingside walls having a zero-draft inner surface and a partially-curvedouter surface; and rounded edges; a plurality of dual-band antennaspositioned within the housing proximate to the zero-draft inner surfaceof the side walls; a circuit board assembly communicatively connected tothe plurality of dual-band antennas to provide a gateway to a wirelessnetwork and a node to a wireless mesh network; and a heat sinkpositioned between the circuit board assembly and the plurality ofantennas.

Example 17. The system of example 16, further comprising a heat shieldpositioned proximate to the circuit board assembly, the circuit boardassembly positioned between the heat shield and the heat sink.

Example 18. The system of example 17, wherein the heat shield shieldsthe circuit board assembly from electromagnetic interference from atleast one of a power cable or an Ethernet cable.

Example 19. The system of example 16, wherein one of the first or secondhousing members comprises one or more openings aligned with one or moreEthernet ports on the circuit board assembly.

Example 20. The system of example 19, wherein: the circuit boardassembly further comprises an electrical power connector positionedproximate to the one or more Ethernet ports; and the one of the first orsecond housing members comprises an opening through the housing, theopening aligned with the electrical power connector.

Example 21. The system of example 16, wherein: the partially-curvedouter surface of the side walls is curved in a direction of the centralaxis; and the side walls have a varying thickness based on thezero-draft inner surface and the partially-curved outer surface.

Example 22. The system of example 16, further comprising an antennacarrier that supports the plurality of dual-band antennas, the antennacarrier comprising a non-conductive material.

Example 23. The system of example 16, wherein: the housing includes aflange that interfaces the first housing member to the second housingmember; and outer surfaces of the first and second housing members areseparated by a gap, having a substantially uniform height, based on theflange being horizontally offset from the outer surfaces of the firstand second housing members.

Example 24. The system of example 16, further comprising alight-emitting diode (LED) connected to the circuit board assembly andpositioned within the housing, wherein: a portion of one of the sidewalls is translucent between the partially-curved outer surface and arecess in the zero-draft inner surface of the at least one of the firstor second housing members; and the LED is positioned proximate to therecess to radiate light through the translucent portion of the one ofthe side walls.

CONCLUSION

Although aspects of the access point device have been described inlanguage specific to features and/or methods, the subject of theappended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features ormethods described. Rather, the specific features and methods aredisclosed as example implementations of the access point device, andother equivalent features and methods are intended to be within thescope of the appended claims. Further, various different aspects aredescribed, and it is to be appreciated that each described aspect can beimplemented independently or in connection with one or more otherdescribed aspects.

What is claimed is:
 1. An access point comprising: a housing comprising:a top housing member having a wall that is curved around a longitudinalaxis, the top housing member having a top-end portion connected to afirst end of the wall, the wall having an inner surface and an opposingouter surface; and a bottom housing member connected to the top housingmember at a second end of the wall, the bottom housing member having abottom exterior surface and an opposing interior surface, the bottomhousing member comprising a curved edge between the bottom exteriorsurface and the second end of the wall of the top housing member, thebottom housing member including an exterior cavity formed by a portionof the bottom exterior surface, the exterior cavity accessible via anopening in the curved edge of the bottom housing member; multipleantennas positioned within the housing and operable to transmit andreceive communication signals; and a circuit board assembly positionedwithin the housing and operable to provide a gateway to a wirelessnetwork, wherein the bottom housing member includes multiple additionalopenings located in a surface of the exterior cavity, the surface of theexterior cavity located on an opposing side of the longitudinal axisfrom the opening in the curved edge of the bottom housing member, themultiple additional openings including one or more first openings forreceiving one or more Ethernet cables and a second opening for receivingan electrical power connector, the multiple additional openingsconfigured to receive the one or more Ethernet cables and the electricalpower connector in a direction that is perpendicular to the longitudinalaxis.
 2. The access point of claim 1, wherein the circuit board assemblycomprises one or more Ethernet ports.
 3. The access point of claim 2,wherein: the exterior cavity comprises an interior side that issubstantially parallel to the longitudinal axis, the one or more firstopenings being aligned with the one or more Ethernet ports of thecircuit board assembly.
 4. The access point of claim 3, wherein thesecond opening is aligned with a power connector on the circuit boardassembly.
 5. The access point of claim 1, further comprising acantilever member formed within the bottom housing member and connectedto the bottom housing member at a fulcrum, wherein the cantilever memberis bendable, by a force applied to a free end of the cantilever member,to interface with a reset mechanism on the circuit board assembly. 6.The access point of claim 1, wherein the multiple antennas includemultiple dual-band antennas.
 7. The access point of claim 1, wherein thecircuit board assembly is further operable to provide a node to awireless mesh network.
 8. The access point of claim 1, wherein at leastone of the top housing member or the bottom housing member is injectionmolded.
 9. The access point of claim 1, further comprising an antennacarrier positioned within the housing a configured to support themultiple antennas, wherein: the antenna carrier has a substantiallydisk-shaped body and a plurality of flanges; one of the plurality offlanges is connected to one of the multiple antennas; and the multipleantennas are positioned proximate to the inner surface of the wall. 10.The access point of claim 9, further comprising: a heat sink positionedbetween the antenna carrier and the circuit board assembly within thehousing; and a heat shield positioned adjacent to the circuit boardassembly to shield the circuit board assembly from electromagneticinterference, the circuit board assembly positioned between the heatshield and the heat sink.
 11. An access point comprising: a housingcomprising: a top housing member having a wall that is curved around alongitudinal axis, the top housing member having a top-end portionconnected to a first end of the wall, the wall having an inner surfaceand an opposing outer surface, the top housing member having a recess inthe inner surface of the wall, the wall having a translucent portionbetween the recess and the outer surface of the wall; and a bottomhousing member connected to the top housing member at a second end ofthe wall, the bottom housing member having a bottom exterior surface andan opposing interior surface, the bottom housing member comprising acurved edge between the bottom exterior surface and the second end ofthe wall of the top housing member; a light source aligned with therecess to radiate light through the translucent portion of the wall, thelight corresponding to an operating status of the access point; multipleantennas positioned within the housing and operable to transmit andreceive communication signals; and a circuit board assembly positionedwithin the housing and operable to provide a gateway to a wirelessnetwork.
 12. The access point of claim 11, further comprising a lightblocker positioned around the recess to prevent light from passingthrough the wall at locations other than the translucent portion. 13.The access point of claim 11, wherein the bottom housing member includesan exterior cavity that is formed by a portion of the bottom exteriorsurface and that is accessible via an opening in the curved edge of thebottom housing member.
 14. The access point of claim 13, wherein: theexterior cavity includes a surface located on an opposing side of thelongitudinal axis from the opening in the curved edge of the bottomhousing member; and the surface has multiple additional openingsincluding one or more first openings for receiving one or more Ethernetcables and a second opening for receiving an electrical power connector.15. The access point of claim 14, wherein: the one or more firstopenings are aligned with one or more Ethernet ports on the circuitboard assembly; and the second opening is aligned with a power connectoron the circuit board assembly.
 16. An access point comprising: a housingcomprising: a top housing member having a wall that is curved around alongitudinal axis, the top housing member having a top-end portionconnected to a first end of the wall, the wall having an inner surfaceand an opposing outer surface; a bottom housing member connected to thetop housing member at a second end of the wall, the bottom housingmember having a bottom exterior surface and an opposing interiorsurface, the bottom housing member comprising a curved edge between thebottom exterior surface and the second end of the wall of the tophousing member; and a step member that: interfaces the bottom housingmember to the top housing member; is inset toward the longitudinal axis;and causes a gap, with a substantially uniform height, to be formedbetween the bottom housing member and the second end of the top housingmember; multiple antennas positioned within the housing and operable totransmit and receive communication signals; and a circuit board assemblypositioned within the housing and operable to provide a gateway to awireless network.
 17. The access point of claim 16, wherein: thesubstantially uniform height of the gap is within a range of 0.2millimeters to 2.0 millimeters; the step member is inset from the outersurface of the wall of the top housing member by a distance that iswithin a range of 0.25 millimeters to 1.0 millimeter; and the gap has aheight variance of less than 0.5 millimeters.
 18. The access point ofclaim 16, wherein the bottom housing member is shorter than the tophousing member such that the gap is located on a lower half of thehousing.
 19. The access point of claim 16, wherein the bottom housingmember includes an exterior cavity that is formed by a portion of thebottom exterior surface and that is accessible via an opening in thecurved edge of the bottom housing member.
 20. The access point of claim19, wherein: the exterior cavity includes a surface located on anopposing side of the longitudinal axis from the opening in the curvededge of the bottom housing member; and the surface has multipleadditional openings including one or more first openings for receivingone or more Ethernet cables and a second opening for receiving anelectrical power connector.